Depository for accumulations of paper sheets

ABSTRACT

Large rolls of partially overlapping paper sheets which are convoluted onto the cores of reels are stored in one or more rows of compartments in a newspaper printing or bookbinding plant. Two adjoining rows are separated from each other by a track for one or more vehicles which are used to transport empty reels to one or more compartments wherein the sheets are convoluted onto the respective cores as well as to transport loaded reels to unoccupied compartments or to compartments which are adjacent to unwinding units. Conveyors in the form of cranes and/or chain or belt conveyors are used to transfer empty and loaded reels between the compartments of the rows and pairs of similar compartments on the vehicles. A vehicle which transports a loaded reel from the convoluting station to an empty compartment is used to transport an empty reel from such compartment to the compartment at the convoluting station so that the vehicle is put to use during each stage of its movement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to depositories or magazines for temporarystorage of accumulations of paper sheets or the like. More particularly,the invention relates to improvements in depositories for largeaccumulations of sheets or like commodities, particularly for largepallets which carry stacks of folded paper sheets or for large rolls ofconvoluted folded paper sheets.

It is well known to palletize folded sheets or signatures which are usedin bookbinding or newspaper printing plants and to utilize the pallets(each of which has a standard size) for transport of stacked sheets tostorage, from storage or directly from the stacking station to aprocessing station. It is also known to temporarily store large numbersof sheets in the form of rolls each of which is convoluted onto the coreof a bobbin or reel and which are put to storage for certain periods oftime prior to delivery to a gathering, stuffing, inserting or otherprocessing machine. As a rule, the cores of the reels are mounted inframes which can be transported in the plant to and from storage and/orto other locations in lieu of standard pallets.

A drawback of presently known depositories for pallets and reels whichcarry large quantities of sheets in the form of stacks or in the form ofconvolutions is that the vehicles which are used to deliver pallets orreels to and from storage and/or to other destinations are empty atleast half of the time. Thus, if the vehicle is used to transport one ormore pallets or reels from the stacking or convoluting station tostorage, it is empty on its way from storage back to the stacking orconvoluting station. Analogously, if the vehicle is used to transportone or more pallets or reels from storage to a gathering or insertingmachine, it is empty on its way back to storage or to the stacking orconvoluting station. Moreover, the space in a factory building or thelike is not utilized to capacity when the pallets or reels aretransported in the just described manner. The proposals to increase thenumber of vehicles do not constitute a satisfactory solution because ofthe higher initial and maintenance cost as well as the need foradditional space in the plant in order to allow for movement of numerousvehicles to and from storage and/or other destinations.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved depositoryfor large accumulations of paper sheets or the like, especially foraccumulations in the form of rolls of partially overlapping paper sheetswhich are convoluted onto the cores of bobbins, reels or like carriers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a depository wherein asmall number of vehicles suffices to transport large numbers ofaccumulations to and from storage as well as from the accumulatingstation or stations and/or to one or more withdrawing or breaking upstations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a depository whereineach vehicle can be put to use on its way toward as well as away from aselected location.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedmethod of manipulating large accumulations of sheets in a newspaperprinting, bookbinding or like plant.

An additional object of the invention is to provide novel and improvedfacilities for temporary storage of large accumulations of paper sheetsin a depository of the above outlined character.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improveddistribution of storage facilities in a depository of the above outlinedcharacter.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improvedvehicles and other types of conveyors for use in the above outlineddepository.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a depository whichcan be utilized with a heretofore unmatched degree of economy, not onlyfor temporary storage of large accumulations of printed sheets but alsofor rapid delivery of such accumulations into and/or rapid removal ofaccumulations from storage.

One feature of the present invention resides in the provision of adepository for accumulations of sheets, particularly for pallets whichare loaded with stacks of paper sheets or for rolls of convoluted papersheets. The depository comprises at least one row of neighboring firstfacilities for temporary storage of discrete accumulations, an elongatedtrack extending along the row of first facilities, at least one vehiclewhich is arranged to move along the track and has at least two secondfacilities for temporary storage of discrete accumulations, and conveyormeans for effecting the transport or transfer of accumulations betweenthe first facilities of the row and the second facilities of thevehicle. The row is preferably (but need not always be) a straight row,and the track is preferably parallel with and can be closely adjacent toone side of the row.

The depository can further comprise at least one second or additionalrow of neighboring first facilities for temporary storage ofaccumulations. The track is then disposed between and is flanked by theat least one row at one side and the second row or rows at the otherside. The conveyor means then preferably comprises means for effectingthe transport or transfer of accumulations between the first facilitiesof each second row and the second facilities of the vehicle.

The depository can further comprise means for accumulating sheets in atleast one of the first facilities of the at least one row, and such rowis preferably disposed between the accumulating means and the track. Thedepository can further comprise means for removing sheets from anaccumulation in at least one first facility of the at least one row, andsuch row is preferably disposed between the track and the removingmeans.

Each of the first facilities preferably includes a first support (e.g.,a base or platform) which serves to locate an accumulation in therespective first facility at a predetermined level. The vehicle ismovable along the track to place its second facilities into registerwith selected first facilities of the at least one row, and each secondfacility preferably includes a second support (e.g., a platform or base)which serves to locate an accumulation therein at the level of theregistering first facility. The conveyor means of such depository cancomprise rollers which are provided on the accumulations (e.g., on theframes for the cores on which streams of partially overlapping papersheets are convoluted) so that such accumulations can be simply rolledfrom a second support onto the registering first support or vice versa.

As mentioned above, the depository can comprise two or more second oradditional rows of first facilities, and the vehicle or vehicles whichare movable along the track can be arranged or used to transportaccumulations longitudinally of the rows, e.g., from a second row to aselected first facility of the at least one row so that the thustransferred accumulation is in the range of the aforementioned removingmeans.

The depository can comprise a plurality of discrete vehicles (e.g., inthe form of rail-mounted carriages) each of which can be moved (eitherby hand or by a prime mover) along the track (e.g., along a pair ofrails) independently of each other vehicle.

The conveyor means can comprise an endless chain or belt conveyor foreach of the first and second facilities. Alternatively, or in additionto such endless belt or chain conveyors, the conveyor means can comprisean overhead crane which can transfer accumulations between the firstfacilities and the second facilities or between different firstfacilities.

The mutual positions of the second facilities on each vehicle arepreferably selected in such a way that one second facility registerswith a selected first facility of the adjacent row when the other secondfacility registers with the first facility which is immediately adjacentto the selected first facility. The dimensions of each first facilitycan match the dimensions of each second facility.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a method ofmanipulating accumulations of sheets, particularly pallets with stacksof sheets or rolls of convoluted paper sheets. The method comprises thesteps of establishing at least one row of neighboring facilities orsections for temporary storage of accumulations in a magazine ordepository, forming a succession of accumulations in at least onesection of the row of neighboring sections, transferring each freshlyformed accumulation into another section of the row, and breaking up theaccumulation in the other section of the row. The transferring stepincludes establishing for the accumulations an elongated path or trackextending along the row of sections, conveying the freshly formedaccumulation from the one section into the adjacent portion of the path,advancing the accumulation along the path to a position adjacent to theother section of the row, and conveying the accumulation from the pathinto the other section of the row.

The method can further comprise the steps of maintaining a carrier (suchas the aforementioned frame or pallet) for an accumulation of sheets ineach section of the row and maintaining at least one spare carrier inthe path. The forming step then includes storing a plurality of sheetson the carrier in the one section, and the transferring step thenincludes moving the thus loaded carrier into and along the path and intothe other section. Such method further comprises the steps ofintroducing the spare carrier into the one section upon removal of theloaded carrier, and withdrawing the carrier from the other section intothe path prior to insertion of the loaded carrier so that the thuswithdrawn carrier then constitutes the spare carrier.

The forming step can include convoluting a (scalloped) stream ofpartially overlapping sheets onto the carrier in the one section, andthe step of breaking up can comprise unwinding the stream from theloaded carrier in the other section.

The method can further comprise the steps of establishing a second rowof neighboring sections adjacent to the path so that the path is flankedby the two rows of sections, and transferring some of the accumulationsfrom the one section into the path and thence into selected sections ofthe second row. Such method can further comprise the step oftransferring accumulations from the sections of the second row (whereinthe accumulations are stored for desired intervals of time) into theother section so that the thus transferred accumulations can be brokenup.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved depository itself, however, both as to its construction and themode of manipulating accumulations of sheets therein, will be bestunderstood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certainspecific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a depository which embodies thepresent invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic end elevational view as seen in the direction ofarrow II from the left-hand side of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The drawing shows a depository wherein an elongated straight track orpath 3 is flanked by two straight elongated parallel rows 1 and 2 ofneighboring first facilities or sections 6 for temporary storage ofdiscrete accumulations 17 of paper sheets. In the illustratedembodiment, each of the accumulations 17 constitutes a convertedscalloped stream of partially overlapping folded sheets which areconvoluted on the core 10 of a suitable carrier or frame 7 furtherincluding two spaced-apart sidewalls or cheeks 9. The track 3 isprovided with one or more elongated rails 4 for one or moreindependently movable vehicles. FIG. 1 shows two vehicles 5 and 5' eachof which can constitute a wheel-mounted carriage adapted to move each ofits two closely adjacent second facilities or sections 13 into registerwith a selected facility or section 6 of the row 1 or 2. Each of thefacilities 6 can comprise a support or base 18, and such supports orbases together constitute an elongated platform 19 which is designed tomaintain the accumulations 17 thereon at a predetermined level. Each ofthe second facilities 13 also comprises a support or base 20, and suchsupports or bases together constitute a platform 21 which is designed tomaintain the accumulations 17 thereon at the predetermined level so asto allow for convenient transport or transfer of accumulations from afacility 13 into or onto a facility 6 or vice versa. The dimensions ofeach facility 13 can approximate or match those of a facility 6.

Each of the frames 7 is preferably mounted on rollers or wheels 8(hereinafter called rollers with the understanding that this term isintended to embrace wheels, rollers, casters, skids and like parts whichfacilitate the shifting of relatively heavy accumulations 17 between thesupports 18 and the adjacent supports 20). The manner in which thestreams of sheets are convoluted onto the cores 10 of the frames 7 byeach of a battery of three accumulating or winding units 11 forms nopart of the present invention. Reference may be had, for example, to thecommonly owned European patent application No. 84 109 005.3 or to thecommonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,523,751, 4,526,362, 4,494,705,4,538,397, 4,550,883 and 4,528,794.

The depository further comprises a battery of, for example, four sheetremoving or withdrawing units 12 which serve to unwind the streams ofpartially overlapping sheets from the respective cores 10, e.g., in amanner as disclosed in the aforementioned commonly owned U.S. Pat. No.4,550,883. It will be noted that the row 1 of facilities 6 is disposedbetween the path 3 and the units 11, 12; this ensures that each of theunits 11, 12 is readily accessible as well as that scalloped streams ofsheets can be readily delivered to the units 11 and withdrawn from theunits 12. The aforementioned European patent application also describesdevices which can be used as accumulating units 11 and withdrawing units12 in the depository of FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, each unit 11 canreceive a scalloped stream of sheets from a sheet folding station, andeach unit 12 can deliver sheets to a gathering, stuffing or insertingmachine in a bookbinding or newspaper printing and assembling plant.

The depository further comprises conveyor means for effecting thetransfer or transport of accumulations 17 between the facilities 6 ofthe row 1 or 2 and the facilities 13 of the vehicles 5, 5'. Suchconveyor means can comprise a discrete endless chain or belt conveyor 14for each of the facilities 6 and a discrete chain or belt conveyor 15for each of the facilities 13, and such discrete conveyors can be drivenby motors (not specifically shown) which are started and arrestedmanually or automatically, e.g., in accordance with a selected program.

The chain or belt conveyors 14 and 15 can be used jointly with or inlieu of an overhead crane 16 which preferably includes one or moretrolleys movable transversely of and/or longitudinally of the track orpath 3.

An additional row 22 of facilities 6 is shown in FIG. 1 adjacent to therow 2 so that the latter is disposed between the row 22 and the track 3.The accumulations 17 which are stored in the facilities 6 of the row 22can be transferred first into the adjacent facilities of the row 2 andthence onto one of the wheels 5, 5' and vice versa. Alternatively, thecrane 16 can be used to transport accumulations 17 directly from thefacilities 6 which are adjacent the accumulating units 11 to selectedfacilities 6 of the row 22 and from such facilities of the row 22directly to the facilities 6 which are adjacent to the withdrawing units12.

The depository of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be operated as follows:

An empty frame 7 in one of the facilities 6 (of the row 1) which areadjacent to the accumulating units 11 can be provided with a supply ofsheets so that such frame is converted into a loaded frame or supportcarrying a roll or accumulation 17 of partially overlapping sheets. Theneighboring convolutions of such sheets are separated from each other bythe convolutions of a preferably elastic band in a manner as disclosedin the aforementioned commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,883. Thevehicle 5' is then moved along the rails 4 so as to place an unoccupiedfacility 13 into register with the facility 6 wherein the frame 7supports an accumulation 17. The corresponding conveyor 14 is then setin motion to transfer the frame 7 and the accumulation 17 thereon intothe adjacent facility 13. The vehicle 5' is advanced by a step so as toplace the empty frame 7 in its other facility 13 into register with thefreshly evacuated facility 6 of the row 1, and the respective conveyor15 is then set in motion to transfer the empty frame 7 from the vehicle5' into the adjacent facility 6 where the empty frame is ready toreceive an accumulation 17 from the respective unit 11. The vehicle 5'is moved along the path 3 to place its empty facility 13 into registerwith the empty frame 7 of a facility 6 in the row 1 or 2, and therespective conveyor 14 is set in motion to transfer the empty frame 7from such facility 6 into the theretofore empty facility 13 of thevehicle 5'. The vehicle 5' is again moved by a step so as to place thefacility 13 containing the freshly loaded frame 7 into register with thefreshly emptied facility 6, and the respective conveyor 15 is started totransfer the loaded frame 7 from the vehicle 5' into the row 1 or 2. Ifdesired or necessary, the loaded frame 7 in one of the facilities 13 canbe moved immediately into register with the facility 6 which is adjacentto one of the withdrawing units 12. This depends upon whether the units11 and 12 are operated simultaneously or the units 11 are operated firstto form a given number of filled frames 7 (each of which is providedwith a roll or accumulation 17 of partly overlapping sheets) which arethen stored in the facilities 6 of the row 1, 2 and/or 22 for a certaininterval of time prior to being transported into the facilities 6 whichare adjacent to the units 12 so that such units can unwind the streamsof sheets for admission into gathering, stuffing, inserting or otherprocessing machines, not shown.

It will be seen that one facility 13 of the vehicle 5' contains an empty(spare) frame 7 while the vehicle 5' is on its way toward one of theunits 11 while the other facility 13 is unoccupied so that it canreceive a freshly loaded frame 7 before the spare frame 7 is transferredfrom the vehicle 5' into the freshly emptied facility 6 adjacent to oneof the units 11. On its way away from the units 11, the vehicle 5'carries a loaded frame 7 (with an accumulation 17 of sheets thereon) andan empty facility 13 so that the latter can receive an empty frame 7from the facility 6 which is to receive the loaded frame 7.

The manner of utilizing the vehicle 5 is identical with or analogous tothat of using the vehicle 5'. It is clear that the depository can employa single vehicle or more than two vehicles, depending on the number offacilities 6 and the permissible length of intervals which are requiredto transfer empty frames 7 to the units 11 and loaded frames 7 from theunits 11 to the units 12 or to selected facilities 6.

The improved depository is susceptible of numerous additionalmodifications. For example, the number of rows of facilities 6 at theright-hand side of the track 3, as viewed in FIG. 2, can be increased tothree or more, depending on the desired overall number of facilities 6and on the dimensions of the edifice (e.g., a building in a newspaperprinting and assembling plant) wherein the improved depository is put touse. The number of facilities 13 on each of the vehicles 5, 5' ispreferably increased if the number of rows with facilities 6 isincreased. For example, the number of facilities 13 on each vehicle canmatch the total number of rows of facilities 6 minus one.

Accumulating units and withdrawing units which can be used in thedepository of the present invention are disclosed in numerous additionalpatents and pending applications of the assignee.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contributionto the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended tobe comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of theappended claims.

I claim:
 1. A depository for accumulations of sheets, particularly forrolls of convoluted paper sheets, comprising at least one row ofneighboring first facilities for temporary storage of discreteaccumulations; mobile carriers for accumulations in said firstfacilities; an elongated track extending along said row; means foraccumulating sheets on the carrier in at least one of said firstfacilities; means for removing sheets from the accumulation on thecarrier in at least one of said first facilities, said at least one rowbeing disposed between said track on the one hand and said accumulatingand removing means on the other hand; at least one vehicle arranged tomove along said track and having at least two second facilities fortemporary storage of discrete accumulations; a mobile carrier for anaccumulation in one of said second facilities; and conveyor means foreffecting the transport of carriers between the first facilities of saidrow and the second facilities of said vehicle substantially transverselyof said track.
 2. The depository of claim 1, wherein said row is astraight row and said track is parallel to said row.
 3. The depositoryof claim 1, further comprising a second row of neighboring firstfacilities for temporary storage of discrete accumulations and carriersfor accumulations in the first facilities of said second row, said trackbeing disposed between and being flanked by said rows, said conveyormeans including means for effecting the transport of carriers betweenthe first facilities of said second row and the second facilities ofsaid vehicle.
 4. The depository of claim 1, wherein each of said firstfacilities includes a first support arranged to locate the carriertherein at a predetermined level and said vehicle is movable along saidtrack to place its second facilities into register with selected firstfacilities of said row, each of said second facilities including asecond support arranged to locate a carrier therein at the level of thecarrier on the registering first support.
 5. The depository of claim 4,wherein said conveyor means includes rollers provided for the carriersso that such carriers can be rolled from a second support onto theregistering first support or vice versa.
 6. The depository of claim 1,further comprising several additional rows of first facilities fortemporary storage of discrete accumulations and carriers foraccumulations in the first facilities of said additional rows, saidtrack being disposed between said at least one row and said additionalrows and said conveyor means including means for effecting the transportof carriers between the first facilities of said additional rows and thesecond facilities of said vehicle.
 7. The depository of claim 1,comprising a plurality of discrete vehicles each arranged to move alongsaid track independently of each other vehicle.
 8. The depository ofclaim 1, wherein said conveyor means comprises an endless belt or chainconveyor for each of said facilities.
 9. The depository of claim 1,wherein said conveyor means comprises an overhead crane.
 10. Thedepository of claim 1, wherein the mutual positions of said secondfacilities are such that one thereof registers with a selected firstfacility when the other second facility registers with the firstfacility which is immediately adjacent to the selected first facility.11. The depository of claim 10, wherein the dimensions of said firstfacilities match the dimensions of said second facilities.